About

Highlands Current Inc. is a New York State not-for-profit corporation begun in 2010 as Philipstown.Info, Inc., to provide balanced reporting of the news and events of the Hudson Valley communities of Cold Spring, Garrison, Nelsonville and Philipstown.

Mission

Our mission is to be a fair and trusted source of information for our Hudson Highlands communities and to provide a lively forum for wide-ranging views. Through both our website, HighlandsCurrent.org, and our print edition, The Highlands Current, we seek to reflect the rich variety of interests, concerns and experiences of our readers and to communicate their stories in the most up-to-date manner possible. We will report without bias or favor for any particular agenda or partisan political point of view.

Support

We are able to provide our quality journalism to our communities through the efforts of a dedicated staff, loyal advertisers and the support of devoted readers. In order to provide our newspaper free to the communities we serve, we rely on the generosity of the many in the Hudson Valley who believe in our mission. Our corporation has tax-exempt status as a federal 501(c)(3) enterprise, and donations to it are tax-deductible to the extent provided by law.

History

The website started that year by Philipstown resident Gordon Stewart (his Founder’s Greeting is below) was expanded in 2012 to a print edition, called The Paper. Together the website and the newspaper have won 33 New York Press Association awards for excellence in various categories since it first year of eligibility in 2013.

In 2014, Stewart recruited a board of directors of like-minded individuals to formally create a community-supported not-for-profit corporation, and in September that year he relinquished his role as publisher to the new board of Philipstown.Info, Inc. Gordon Stewart died two months later.

In April 2016, to reflect broadening coverage of Beacon and other neighboring towns, the newspaper was renamed The Highlands Current and the website, HighlandsCurrent.org. The corporation became Highlands Current Inc.

The newspaper is published weekly on Fridays and is free to the public in order to inform the widest group of readers.

Latest News

In January 2016, the board of directors of Philipstown.Info, Inc., voted to rename the enterprise to better reflect its expanding coverage of Beacon and neighboring communities. On April 1, 2016, the newspaper became The Highlands Current; the website, HighlandsCurrent.org; and the corporation, Highlands Current Inc.

In October 2015, the Internal Revenue Service confirmed the status of Philipstown.Info, Inc., as a tax-exempt nonprofit organization as described under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The organization is therefore eligible to receive contributions that are tax-deductible to the donor. A copy of the IRS Letter of Determination is available here. The corporation is registered with the Charities Bureau in the Office of the New York State Attorney General and actively solicits contributions only within New York State. Copies of the corporation’s latest IRS Form 990 tax returns (Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax) are available as follows:

In May 2015, Philipstown.Info, Inc., became a member of the Institute for Nonprofit News. INN is a national organization that serves more than 100 public interest-focused newsrooms and data providers throughout the United States. Its mission is “to provide education and business support services to our nonprofit member organizations and promote the value and benefit of public-service and investigative journalism.” For more information on INN, you may go to inn.org.

Hi and welcome to Philipstown.info, whose simple purpose is to live up to our name. We hope you’ll find what you want to know about things great and small in our wonderful town, whenever you need to know. Our hamlets and surrounds have so many breaking stories, ongoing issues, school events and concerns, things to do, places to go, stuff to find, pleasures to eat, people to see and hear — we almost feel like escaping to NYC for the quiet! Though why, when we inhabit one of the world’s most breath-giving peaceable kingdoms?

But simple does not equal easy. Information may want to be free, but only people can free it. Our editor/writers welcome learning from you. They are listed under Contact, so please do. And if you’d like to contribute, we’re open. If there’s something Philipstown and beyond needs to know, let everyone in on it.

One thing we will not impose are political views. No editorials. The only opinion pieces in Philipstown.info will be yours. As to our news policy, we believe it has never been stated better than this: without fear or favor.

We’re told every day that we all live in the information age, as though it were the secret destination of the Yellow Submarine all along. Maybe, maybe not. It’s just good to have you with all our friends aboard Philipstown.info.

Gordon Stewart
Publisher (2010-2014)

Editorial Independence Policy

Highlands Current Inc. subscribes to the policy set forth by the Institute for Nonprofit News, as follows:

Our organization retains full authority over editorial content to protect the best journalistic and business interests of our organization. We will maintain a firewall between news coverage decisions and sources of all revenue. Acceptance of financial support does not constitute implied or actual endorsement of donors or their products, services or opinions.

We accept gifts, grants and sponsorships from individuals and organizations for the general support of our activities, but our news judgments are made independently and not on the basis of donor support.

Our organization also may consider donations to support the coverage of particular topics, but our organization maintains editorial control of the coverage. We will cede no right of review or influence of editorial content, nor of unauthorized distribution of editorial content.

Our organization will make public all donors who give a total of $1,000 or more. We will accept anonymous donations for general support only if it is clear that sufficient safeguards have been put into place that the expenditure of that donation is made independently by our organization and in compliance with INN’s Membership Standards.

Major Donor List

The following donors have contributed $1,000 or more since July 1, 2017:

Fundraising for Highlands Current Inc. is focused on local community support and grants from foundations interested in sustainable community journalism. The funds raised go beyond the organization’s advertising revenue to help to support the operations of both the organization’s news website, HighlandsCurrent.org, and its print edition, The Highlands Current.

Our policy is open to contributions of cash, non-cash and in-kind donations without prejudice. We are open to all donations from individuals or groups who support our vision, mission and values. Donations are acknowledged in writing. Major donors ($1,000+) are posted on the HighlandsCurrent.org website. We do not disclose any individual information other than the names of persons or groups making the donations.

Our fundraising to the local community takes the form of:

Directed campaigns (mail, email, personal calls and written proposals/requests) seeking donations from individuals and groups several times a year.

Various events in the local community, such as panel discussions on local topics of interest.

Fundraising requests on the HighlandsCurrent.org website itself and also in the print edition, The Highlands Current.

In our solicitations to foundations, multi-year support will be sought and encouraged. These efforts could be for ongoing operations support or for special projects important to the local community and consistent with the donor’s criteria for giving.

All fundraising efforts are reviewed quarterly by the Board of Directors of Highlands Current Inc. The various fundraising campaigns and grant requests are planned by the Development Committee of the Board with support from volunteers.

Contact the Editor

Advertise with Us

To advertise with The Current online or in print, see our Media Kit (at right) or contact Advertising Director Michele Gedney at ads@highlandscurrent.org or 845-809-5584. New: Our circulation is now audited. Ask for details.